Waitrose – Best buys this summer

Waitrose holds two press tastings every year, one in the spring and one in the autumn, to showcase new lines, new vintages and new innovations. The spring 2024 tasting showcased 90 wines, which included 32 entirely new to the range and 43 new vintages of existing wines.

‘There’s a raft of newness, which we’re excited about,’ says Waitrose’s wine trading manager, Jamie Matthewson. The retailer’s buyers have sourced some fantastic new choices for the summer season, with five brand new rosés, a good selection from classic regions such as Bordeaux and Rhône, as well as a smattering of more esoteric examples, little-known regions or interesting grape varieties. Matthewson says that in general the most recent vintages have been more favourable than 2021 for example, meaning buyers have been able to spread their wings.

In Decanter’s 2023 Retailer Awards, Waitrose was once again runner-up in the Supermarket of the Year category, just pipped at the post by Marks & Spencer. It was also runner-up in the England & Wales Specialist Retailer of the Year category, reflecting the great work it does for English and Welsh wine by offering a diverse selection from these areas.

DWWA results out 19 June!
Be the first to know: Subscribe to the DWWA newsletter Lighter styles for summer

As you’d expect, there are lots of fresh whites now in store, ready to fill your fridge shelves and perfect for that post-working day apéritif in the garden (or balcony, for the urban dwellers). The Zacharias